Artefact Studies

This MA provides training in the documentation and interpretation of artefacts from archaeological sites and museum collections. Students benefit from a placement within a museum or an archaeological unit where experience will be gained in the practice of finds analysis.

Core modules

All students are required to take the following: 

• Working with artefacts and assemblages
• Technology within Society

Optional modules

Students choose to follow further optional modules up to the value of 60 credits from an outstanding range of Master's options available at the UCL Institute of Archaeology. For this degree, some of the most popular choices include: 

• Antiquities and the Law
• Archaeological Ceramic Analysis
• Archaeological Glass and Glazes
• Archaeometallurgy I: Mining and Extractive Metallurgy
• Archaeometallurgy II: Metallic Artefacts
• Art: Interpretation and Explanation
• British and European Prehistory: Neolithic to Iron Age
• Experimental Archaeology
• Funerary Archaeology
• Geoarchaeology
• Intangible Dimensions of Museum Objects from Egypt
• Interpreting Pottery
• Issues in Conservation: Understanding Objects
• Making and Meaning in Ancient Greek Art
• Making and Meaning in Ancient Roman Art
• Prehistoric Stone Artefact Analysis

Dissertation/report

The 15,000–word dissertation normally combines a professional standard finds report with an academic overview.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through formal lectures, seminars and practical sessions. It can include a placement at a relevant museum or archaeological unit where students gain experience in the practical study and the recording of an artefact assemblage. Assessment is through an essay, a portfolio, a project proposal and the dissertation.

• 5 year Specialist Diploma with an overall mark of 4.5/5.0
• Bachelor's degree with an overall mark of 4.5/5.0
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Score of 100 overall with 24/30 in reading and writing and 20/30 in speaking and listening
• British Council International Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Version). Overall grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the subtests.

Scholarships

• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS)